Deployant bracelet clasp

ABSTRACT

Deployant or folding clasp including, hinged around a support, a first arm being hinged to a first stirrup member, and a second arm to a second stirrup member. 
     This first stirrup member forms part of a first single-piece cap whose bottom surface defines, with one end of this first arm, in any angular position thereof, a space for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to a given thickness, and this second stirrup member forms the bottom part of a second removable cap and includes at least one securing means arranged to cooperate, by clamping around an orifice of a wristband strand, with a complementary securing means of a removable top part of this second cap, to adjust the useful length of this wristband strand.

This application claims priority from European patent application No. 13163572.4 filed Apr. 12, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a deployant or folding clasp including a first and a second arm hinged around a support, said first arm being hinged to a first stirrup member, and said second arm to a second stirrup member.

The invention also concerns a bracelet or wristband including at least one deployant or folding clasp of this type, and, around said at least one clasp, a first fixed strand and a second adjustable strand whose thickness is smaller than or equal to a given thickness.

The invention also concerns a timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one bracelet or wristband of this type.

The invention concerns the field of bracelets or wristbands for watches or jewellery or similar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Safety deployant or folding clasps for watch bands or bracelets are generally devised for wristbands that are hinged or have strands of fixed length.

This involves combining the use of a deployant or folding clasp having three components formed of a support and two arms forming a compass member, which is prized by users because the clasp can open wide and is comfortable to use, with a wristband having flexible strands, particularly made of leather or similar, thereby maintaining the entire possible range of adjustment of the wristband without cutting either of the strands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes to make a wristband with an easy-to-use clasp, whose length is easy to adjust without altering the wristband strands.

The invention therefore concerns a deployant or folding clasp including a first and a second arm hinged around a support, said first arm being hinged to a first stirrup member and said second arm to a second stirrup member, characterized in that said first stirrup member forms part of a first single-piece cap whose bottom surface defines, with one end of said first arm, in any angular position thereof, a space for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to a given thickness, and said second stirrup member forms the bottom part of a second removable cap and includes at least one securing means arranged to cooperate, by clamping around an orifice of a wristband strand, with a complementary securing means of a removable top part of said second cap, to adjust the useful length of said wristband strand.

The invention also concerns a wristband including at least one deployant or folding clasp of this type and, around said at least one clasp, a first fixed strand and a second adjustable strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to a given thickness, characterized in that said first strand is fixed to said first stirrup member by a first hinge pin of said first arm in the prolongation of said first strand and by a second pin traversing said first strand, said first strand defining with said bottom surface said space arranged for the passage of said second strand which is secured to said second cap via the cooperation of said at least one securing means, clamped around an orifice of said second strand, with said complementary securing means of said removable top part of said second cap.

The invention also concerns a timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one bracelet or wristband of this type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial, schematic, side view of the clasp for a wristband having flexible strands according to the invention, in a closed and locked position.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 1, in the same position.

FIG. 3 shows a similar view to FIG. 1 of the same clasp, in an open position.

FIG. 4 shows a similar view to FIG. 2 of the same clasp, in an open position.

FIG. 5 shows the same clasp in the position of FIG. 1, in cross-section through a median plane.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of a timepiece, more particularly a watch, including a wristband with flexible strands fitted with the same clasp.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show schematic, perspective views of a variant of the same clasp including additional safety means, deactivated in FIG. 7 and activated after being folded down at 180° in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention concerns the field of bracelets or wristbands for watches or jewellery or similar.

As shown in the Figures, the invention concerns a deployant or folding clasp 1 including a first 2 and a second 3 arm hinged around a support 4. The first arm 2 is hinged to a first stirrup member 5 and the second arm 3 to a second stirrup member 6.

According to the invention, this first stirrup member 5 forms part of a first single-piece cap 7 whose bottom surface 71 defines, with one end 23 of first arm 2, in any position thereof, a space 72 for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to a given thickness EP.

This second stirrup member 6 forms the bottom portion of a second removable cap 8, and includes at least one securing means 61 arranged to cooperate, by clamping around an orifice of a wristband strand, with a complementary securing means 81 of a removable top portion 82 of said second cap 8, to adjust the useful length of the wristband strand thereby clamped.

More specifically, the deployant or folding clasp 1 according to the invention is provided for a flexible wristband of given thickness EP. First arm 2 extends between a first end 22 and a second end 23; second arm 3 extends between a first end 32 and a second end 33.

Support 4 extends between a first hinge 41 and a second hinge 42.

First arm 2 is hinged at the first end 22 thereof to first hinge 41, and at the second end 23 thereof to first stirrup member 5.

Second elastic arm 3 is hinged at the first end 32 thereof to second hinge 42 and at the second end 33 thereof to second stirrup member 6.

First stirrup member 5 includes a first hinge pin 51 of first arm 2 and a second pin 52 for securing to a fixed wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to given thickness EP. The concealed bottom surface 71 of first cap 7 defines, with second end 23 of first arm 2, in any angular position of second end 23, said passing space 72, for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to given thickness EP, so as to form a guide loop for a wristband strand of this type.

Preferably, first arm 2 includes a first elastically withdrawable locking means 21, second arm 3 includes a second elastically withdrawable locking means 21, and support 4 includes a first complementary locking means 421 and a second complementary locking means 431 arranged to cooperate respectively with first locking means 21 and with second locking means 31 in a locking position.

First arm 2 and second arm 3 may be formed by U-shaped arms, in a “tuning fork” shape, with elastic arms carrying the first 21 and second 22 locking means, particularly formed by tongues or by grooves. However, the first 421 and second 431 complementary locking means are respectively formed of grooves or tongues.

The bending of the elastic arms allows first arm 2 and second arm 3 to move from an open position seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, to a folded down position in the support, by momentarily withdrawing the first 21 and second 22 locking means. Once first arm 2 and second arm 3 are aligned with support 4 in the closure position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, and without any action by the user, the elastic arms return to position and cause the first 21 and second 22 locking means to lock in cooperation respectively with the first 421 and second 431 complementary locking means.

Advantageously, the first single-piece cap 7 includes, on the opposite side to the bottom surface 71 and to first stirrup member 5, a first cabochon 73. The second cap 8 includes, in a similar manner, a second cabochon 83.

A first edge surface 74 of first cabochon 73 is, in the closed and locked position of clasp 1, in abutment on a second opposing edge surface 84 comprised in second cabochon 83.

The user can thus very easily visually check whether the clasp is properly locked, any play between cabochons 73 and 83 indicating that locking is not achieved.

In a variant illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, first cabochon 73 includes a safety locking means 75, which is arranged to cooperate, in the closed and locked position of the clasp, with a complementary safety locking means 85 comprised in second cabochon 83.

In a non-limiting embodiment, by way of example, the first cabochon 73 and second cabochon 83 together form, in the closed and locked position of the clasp, a figure of eight peculiar to the Applicant's products. First cabochon 73 is flanked here by a hinge 76 whose moving arm carries a female figure of eight part 77, devised to clamp together the two cabochons 73 and 83. This shaped part 75 carries here, at one end, a lip 75 arranged to cooperate, after the hinge has been folded down at 180°, in the position of FIG. 8, with a spring 85 or similar element fitted to second cabochon 83 and forming the complementary safety locking means.

To adjust the length of an adjustable strand 12 inserted into space 72 between first stirrup member 5 and bottom surface 71 of first cap 7, second stirrup member 6 includes, as seen FIG. 5, in addition to securing means 61, formed here by a screw cooperating with a sleeve 81 (integral here with a base 87 of the second cap 8), or at least one pin 62 cooperating with a bore 86 in the removable top portion 82 of second cap 8, or conversely a bore 63 cooperating with a pin 83 of removable top portion 82. Both sleeve 81 and pin 62 or 83, depending on the case, cooperates with a hole 123 in wristband strand 12.

The invention concerns a wristband 10 including at least one deployant or folding clasp 1 of this type, and, around said at least one clasp 1, a first fixed strand 11 and a second adjustable strand 12 having a thickness smaller than or equal to said given thickness EP.

First strand 11 is fixed to first stirrup member 5 by a first hinge pin 51 of first arm 2 in the prolongation of first strand 11, and by a second pin 52 traversing first strand 11. First strand 11 then defines, with bottom surface 71, a space 72 arranged for the passage of second strand 12. The latter is secured to second cap 8 via the cooperation of the at least one securing means 61, clamped around an orifice 123 of second strand 12, with a complementary securing means 81 of the removable top portion 82 of second cap 8.

In a particular embodiment, first fixed strand 11 and/or second adjustable strand 12 is a flexible strand.

The invention also concerns a timepiece or piece of jewellery 100 including at least one wristband or bracelet 10 of this type, as seen in FIG. 8. The invention makes it possible to form a clasp 1 recalling the shape of a case 101, particularly a watch case.

In a particular embodiment that is not illustrated, first cabochon 73 and/or second cabochon 83 is used in a visible manner, and carries a timepiece movement, or a precious stone or similar. Indeed, in addition to the mechanical properties of handleability and safety, the invention has a particularly aesthetic nature, and clasp 1 becomes a decorative element of wristband 10.

In short, the invention provides the combination of:

-   -   a means of adjustment on the adjustable strand, which avoids         having to cut the strand to fit the user;     -   a hinged structure with three elements, which is easy to         activate and deactivate;     -   a first stirrup member performing the function of a loop for the         end of the adjustable strand,     -   the cooperation of the two cabochons in abutment on each other         (and in interleaved forms) in the locked closure position, which         forms a means of checking whether proper closure is achieved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A deployant or folding clasp including a first and a second arm hinged around a support, said first arm being hinged to a first stirrup member and said second arm to a second stirrup member, wherein said first stirrup member forms part of a first single-piece cap whose bottom surface defines, with one end of said first arm, in any angular position thereof, a space for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to a given thickness, and said second stirrup member forms the bottom part of a second removable cap and includes at least one securing means arranged to cooperate, by clamping around an orifice of a wristband strand, with a complementary securing means of a removable top part of said second cap, to adjust the useful length of said wristband strand.
 2. The deployant or folding clasp according to claim, wherein the clasp is provided for a flexible wristband or bracelet of given thickness, said first arm extending between a first end and a second end, said second arm extending between a first end and a second end, said support extending between a first hinge and a second hinge, said first arm being hinged at said first end to said first hinge and at said second end to said first stirrup member, and said second elastic arm being hinged at said first end to said second hinge and at said second end to said second stirrup member, said first stirrup member including a first hinge pin for said first arm, and a second pin for securing to a fixed wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to said given thickness, said concealed bottom surface of said first cap defining with said second end of said first arm, in any angular position of said second end, said passing space for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to said given thickness, so as to form a guide loop for a said wristband strand.
 3. The clasp according to claim 1, wherein said first arm includes a first elastically withdrawable locking means, in that said second arm includes a second elastically withdrawable locking means, and in that said support includes a first complementary locking means and a second complementary locking means arranged to cooperate respectively with said first locking means and with said second locking means in a locking position.
 4. The clasp according to the preceding claim, wherein said first single-piece cap includes, on the opposite side to said bottom surface and to said first stirrup member, a first cabochon whose first edge surface is in abutment on a second opposing edge surface of a second cabochon comprised in said second cap, when said clasp is in a closed and locked position in which said first and said second arms are pressed onto said support in said locking position.
 5. The clasp according to the preceding claim, wherein said first cabochon includes a safety locking means arranged to cooperate, in said closed and locked position, with a complementary safety locking means comprised in said second cabochon
 6. The clasp according to claim 1, wherein said second stirrup member includes, in addition to said at least one securing means, either at least one pin cooperating with a bore of said removable top part of said second cap, or a bore cooperating with a pin of said removable top part.
 7. The wristband or bracelet including at least one deployant or folding clasp according to claim 1 and, around said at least one clasp, a first fixed strand and a second adjustable strand having a thickness smaller than or equal to said given thickness, wherein said first strand is fixed to said first stirrup member by a first hinge pin of said first arm in the prolongation of said first strand and by a second pin traversing said first strand, said first strand defining with said bottom surface said space arranged for the passage of said second strand which is secured to said second cap via the cooperation of said at least one securing means, clamped around an orifice of said second strand, with said complementary securing means of said removable top part of said second cap.
 8. The wristband or bracelet according to the preceding claim, wherein said first fixed strand and/or said second adjustable strand is a flexible strand.
 9. The timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one wristband or bracelet according to claim
 7. 10. The timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one wristband or bracelet according to claim
 8. 